How to Mess Up a Job Interview

[Gatorman]

How to Mess Up a Job Interview
We've all been interviewed for jobs. And, we've all spent most of those interviews thinking about what not to do. Don't bite your nails. Don't fidget. Don't interrupt. Don't belch. If we did any of the don'ts, we knew we'd disqualify ourselves instantly. But some job applicants go light years beyond this. We surveyed top personnel executives of 100 major American corporations and asked for stories of unusual behavior by job applicants. The lowlights:

- "...stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application."

- "She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time."

- "A balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."

- "...asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate."

- "... announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's office - wiping the ketchup on her sleeve."

- "Stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm."

- "Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions."

- "When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office."

- "At the end of the interview, while I stood there dumbstruck, went through my purse, took out a brush, brushed his hair, and left."

- "...pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him."

 

[LegacyDriver]

Reminds me of a buddy of mine (and I have heard this from multiple sources so I tend to believe it) who claimed to have ended his Jetlink interview rather abruptly. He had been hired elsewhere so didn't need the job any way (those were the days).

Jetlink Interviewer: Why should we hire you?

My Pal: Because I am Superman.

Jetlink: Superman?

My pal (rising from his chair and jerking his shirt open): SUUUUUUUPERMAAAANNNN!!! Duhn ta da dunh DUNH DAAAAA!!! (Runs around interviewer's table) WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Superman!!!! WOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!!!

Then out the door to have a beer at a friend's place.

True or not, one of the funniest aviation tales I ever heard.

He didn't get the Jetlink job.

 

[charter dog]

Yeah, I think I just futzed one up by hesitating when the CP informed me that their hiring practice was to make you sit the indoc class and an oral prior to being offered a position, all on your own time. The interview seemed to be going pretty well up to this point. I was pretty much "on my game" and felt the reaction to my dialogue was positive. This hesitation reaction of mine seemed to scrub off much of the enthusiasm I was detecting prior to this point.

I guess this "extended interview" scheme gives them a chance to "get to know you" to some degree while requiring the applicant to prove their desire to work there prior to the company making any signifigant commitment of monetary resources. Were I not currently employed and unwilling to jeopardize my current position, I would have gotten over any hesitation real quickly by looking at the indoc class as a time investment I could afford in order to get this job. Because this is a better (equip and $) position than I currently hold, I would have done it without hesitation were it not for the fact that I cannot get the time off from my current job to do it without "calling in sick" or otherwise lying to my current employer, who allthough they are tough business practitioners, have treated me in an ethical manner. A shame really, since I had hopes for this one. On the other hand, if they expect me to screw my current employer to get the job at their place, maybe I did the right thing whether I intended to or not. That extra dough sure would have come in handy. Oh well... for now.

Best,

 

[LegacyDriver]

I wouldn't want a job like that any way. Indoc on your own???????

 

[CapnVegetto]

LD's right. That's bull$hit. You oughta be thankful you didn't get that one.

 

[charter dog]

You oughta be thankful you didn't get that one.

Thanks. You make a good point. And I do appreciate the support.

I have very mixed feelings about it. On one hand, this practice does not speak very well for the general character of this company. On the other, It really was quite a bit more money. Unfortunately, it seems to me that the companies who have a decent compensation package and a high standard of care for both aircraft and crew are in a position to make you jump through more hoops. That's just the way it is. And so it also seems as though for me, it may come down to a choice between accepting substandard pay and working conditions at a company where far less butt-smooching and corporate BS is required of it's pilots, or just chugging the corporate Kool-aid (or at least appearing to!) and taking the money and all that comes with it. No free lunch.

The reason I added my interview experience to this thread is that I really think I let one get by by me here. I've got to take the next step if I'm going to go any further in this business. Flying experience and knowledge/proficiency will only carry me so far in the process of career advancement. Even though honesty and "doing the right thing" appears to have cost me this time, I must/will find a way to maintain those values while still projecting the image of the ideal employee to potential employers. It's a fine line I had better learn to see more clearly.

Anyway, thanks for the responses and I hope there is something in this to be learned that will benefit all of us.

Best,

 

[PA-44Typed]

Not sure if it’s true or not but I have hared of a guy that got a rejection letter but still showed up for indoc. The way the story goes the first day of indoc the company was very busy and he was able to fake is way through day one, after that he got assigned a training partner and went on and flew for the company till retirement.

 

[User998]

Wow, how much is a PA-44 type going for now a days?

I remember back when theyd let anyone fly the Seminole!

 

[Avalanche]

I heard about a guy who Fed Ex'd his resume to the UPS Chief Pilot....that may not apply to this thread though because he never actually got the interview.

 

[PHX767]

I managed to piss off the DO of a charter outfit that was looking for a G3 pilot. He told me there were no scheduled days off and I said thats a bunch of BS. How the hell were you supposed to have a life. Saw him a few weeks later, he said he got the impression I didn't want to work hard enough to fly charter. I told him he was correct in his assumption.

 

[Sig]

I told him he was correct in his assumption.

I literally had the same scenario, only different.

*still laughing*

I was given TWO opportunities to fly pressurized piston planes, one a PBaron and the other a 414. The 414 job was whacked. The PBaron operator was willing to give me an atrocious sum (think 3rd year major FO pay, myself a Dash FO) to give up my life.

He couldn't understand why I was laughing at the indefinite RON nature of their business, and the "desk duties" involved. Uhh, can I run to DUB tomorrow for free (like I do)? Can I jumpseat? Can I get recurrent training? Can I get a hell yeah?

Good for you for sticking to your guns.

*** forgot the whole 24/7 on call thing. No days off, ever.

 

[coloneldan]

I heard about a guy who Fed Ex'd his resume to the UPS Chief Pilot....that may not apply to this thread though because he never actually got the interview.

I used to know a lot of guys and gals at what was then Federal Express. One guy was on the selection team. He told me they got resumes and applications via UPS, DHL, USPS, Pony Express, carrier pidgeon, almost anything you can think of. If it didn't come in a Federal package, it went into the circular filing cabinet. You would have to be pretty stupid to send a resume to anyone and use their competion to deliver it. That would be like walking into an interview with Coke while drinking a Pepsi.

 

[SCT]

Do you guys remember the old George Carlin skit about interviewing for a new job? It's hilarious! But at the end he says if the interview is not going well, "point to the picture on the bosses desk and ask "whose the ---t?"

 

[Publishers]

1. Had one pilot applicant tell me that while he wanted our job, he really wanted to fly with a friend of his at another place and he thought that might be available soon. He did not want us to be surprised if he ended up leaving soon. AHHH- let me see the solution here.
2. Had someone applying for Director Operations job. Told him that one of the requirements was in depth knowlege of FAR's. He said he knew them back and forth. Unfortuantely he was not hired as he did not qualify as D/O.
3. Had flight attendant interview and we stressed that appearance and professionalism that were impeccable was required. It was hard to concentrate as her fly was open.
4. Had applicant say that this was his dream job and he could not wait to start. Called him the next day with offer, could not find him-- still have not seen him.
5. Interviewee was chewing gum so hard, we could not remember the questions we wanted to ask.
6. Ex airline interviewee and I were discussing airlines before getting to the meat of the interview. I mentioned how it seemed that the first thing out of people that came from the airlines was about time off which was not what an employer wanted to hear. Guess what the first thing he asked about.
7. Had another who was so quiet and unassuming that we all questioned his command authority.

 

[User998]

3. Had flight attendant interview and we stressed that appearance and professionalism that were impeccable was required. It was hard to concentrate as her fly was open.

So, did she get the job? Seriously.

 

[Flat Spot]

We were having lunch at the IAD marriott on Tuesday and there was a gentleman getting interviewed at the table next to us ( not aviation related, sounded like a drug rep sort of thing ). Not 5 minutes after he sat down his cell phone rings ( Not only does he answer it, he stays on the phone for probably 2 minutes.) then after he hangs up, he apologises and explaines that the call was his wife and that his rule was to always answer family calls.

Wonder if he got the job.

 

[Publishers]

No she did not. She made the mistake a number of people make. I have experience, I do not need to make the same effort as someone else. You know, "I have 10,000 hours with TWA, you should be glad to have me" Those young kids need to wear a tie, but I have 10,000 hours."
The fact you forgot to zip up your slacks, well that did not help.

 

[pilot error]

on a side note, if at some point during the interview it is obvious that you don't want the job, just ask them, "do you terminate or prosecute for employee theft?"

 

[Publishers]

The best interview is the one that does not happen. I have observed a pilot out here flying for a piston twin 135 based here. I was impressed with his professional appearance, being out here early, weighing everything that went on the aircraft, and generally looking after the owners interests when the owner was gone.
We are sending him to school and giving him a jet SIC position. He asked me when we approached him about an interview. I told him he had one for the last 12 months, he just did not know it.

 

[flyinlow67]

The best interview is the one that does not happen. I have observed a pilot out here flying for a piston twin 135 based here. I was impressed with his professional appearance, being out here early, weighing everything that went on the aircraft, and generally looking after the owners interests when the owner was gone.
We are sending him to school and giving him a jet SIC position. He asked me when we approached him about an interview. I told him he had one for the last 12 months, he just did not know it.

Good for you. It's nice to see someone who works hard and does a good job gets rewarded and not shafted.

 

[MUST FLY!]

The best interview is the one that does not happen. I have observed a pilot out here flying for a piston twin 135 based here. I was impressed with his professional appearance, being out here early, weighing everything that went on the aircraft, and generally looking after the owners interests when the owner was gone.
We are sending him to school and giving him a jet SIC position. He asked me when we approached him about an interview. I told him he had one for the last 12 months, he just did not know it.

I could not agree more!! Every once in a great while we have full-time openings in our ANG unit, and invariably the Guardsmen line up with applications thinking that they're all shoo-ins...little do they realize that they interviewed every day that they've been with the unit. The ones who show up on time, looking sharp, acting sharp, being sharp are the ones that get hired...the ones who miss drill, show up late or looking like a laundry bag get passed by. Remember that old adage they use in CFI training: What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say!

Bottom line: Do your best, give a dang, and do it the right way regardless if anyone is looking.

 

[leardawg]

All too often the clueless ones who show up late, dress inappropriately, and do the most unbelievably dumb things while interviewing for a job are the ones who think the world owes them a living (and a good one at that!). They're the ones who "blame the Government" and "blame the rich SOBs who don't pay enough taxes" for their shortcomings in life, pointing the finger at everyone but themselves. The country is chock full of people like that, and it's often the hard working, dedicated and talented of our society who wind up being forced to carrry their water.